speculoos cookies

1. Place the all-purpose flour in a medium bowl and sift in the cake and whole wheat flours. Break up any lumps of flour remaining in the sieve and add them to the bowl. Sift in the baking soda and cinnamon. Add the salt and whisk together.
2. Combine both sugars in a small bowl and whisk to break up any lumps. Using a fork, stir in the honey.
3. Place the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Turn to medium-low speed and cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugar mixture and mix for about 2 minutes, until fluffy. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. Add the dry ingredients in 2 additions, mixing on low speed for 15 to 30 seconds after each, or until just combined. Scrap the bottom of the bowl to incorporate any dry ingredients that have settled there.
4. Mound the dough on the work surface and, using the heel of your hand or a pastry scraper, push it together into a 4”x 6” block. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, but preferably overnight.
5. Position the racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat the oven to 325°F. Line two sheet pans with parchment paper.
6. Unwrap the dough and place it between two pieces of parchment paper or plastic wrap. With a rolling pin, pound the top of the dough, working from left to right, to begin to flatten it, then turn the dough 90 degrees and repeat (this helps prevent the dough from cracking as it is rolled). Roll out to just under 1/8” thick. If the dough has softened, slice it (in the parchment) onto the back of a sheet pan and refrigerate until firm enough to cut into cookies.
7. Using a 2 1/2” cookie cutter, cut out the cookies and arrange them on the prepared sheet pans, leaving about 3/4” between them.
8. Bake the cookies until golden brown, 13 to 15 minutes, reversing the positions of the pans halfway through baking. Set the pans on a cooling wrap and cool for 5 to 10 minutes, then transfer the cookies to the rack to cool completely.

marshmallow

1. Place the gelatin in a small bowl, cover with 3 tbsp of the water and set aside.
2. Place the sugar, corn syrup, vanilla seeds (if using) and remaining water in a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Stir until the sugar has melted, then increase the heat to medium-high. Bring to a boil and simmer for 8-10 minutes, until the mixture turns a very light amber color and starts to thicken (you are looking for it to eventually reach 262°F on a candy thermometer).
3. Keep a close eye on the sugar as it's simmering, and when the temperature reaches about 248°F, place the egg white in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat the egg white until stiff peaks form, then continue beating with the machine.
4. When the sugar reaches 262°F, remove it from the heat, add the softened gelatin, its soaking water, and the vanilla extract (if substituting for vanilla bean seeds) to the sugar mixture and stir to combine. With the electric mixer running, slowly and carefully pour the sugar syrup over the egg whites and continue to beat until the mixture is glossy and thick and the bowl of the mixer is completely cool; about 15 minutes.
5. Immediately spoon the marshmallow into a piping bag and begin to assemble the cookies (below).

assembly

1. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and place the cooled cookies on another cooling rack, leaving at least 1” between them. Holding the marshmallow piping bag vertically about 1/4” above the center of a cookie, pipe the marshmallow so it covers the cookie to within 1/2” from the edges, the pull up on the pastry bag to form a cone. Repeat with remaining cookies and marshmallow. Set aside for about 30 minutes to set, meanwhile melt the chocolate (and temper it if you're feeling fancy).
2. Spoon some of the melted chocolate over each hat to coat the marshmallow and cookie evenly. Let stand at room temperature until the chocolate sets.